Viacom to buy CBS in biggest media deal ever
NEW YORK -- Viacom Inc. is buying CBS Corp. in the richest media merger in history -- a $36 billion deal that combines the owner of hip properties like MTV and VH1 with the old-line network that brought you ``60 Minutes'' and ``Murder, She Wrote.''

Delta Air Lines pilots negotiate contracts
ATLANTA -- Delta Air Lines pilots, trying to get an early start on contract negotiations, said Wednesday they want a bigger piece of the airline's profits, which have soared to billion-dollar levels since the last contract was signed.

Economy should look even rosier after GDP revision
WASHINGTON -- The economy will look a little healthier -- growth has been even better than previously thought and Americans haven't been as free-spending -- as the government changes the way it takes the pulse.

Charges against Martin Frankel dropped
HAMBURG, Germany -- German prosecutors said Tuesday they won't press charges against Martin Frankel, clearing the way for the alleged rogue financier's extradition to the United States as soon as next week if it goes uncontested.

Heavy-metal home has soft tones
Interior design is a matter of perspective. ``You just have to look at things differently,'' said Karen Swayne, who raised a few eyebrows when decorating her Evans home.

Pizza dinner
It has been only a few weeks since the children headed back to school, and already I'm missing the lazy days of summer. All the activities that took a summer hiatus have started up full swing.

In the know
Chris Rock is host of tonight's telecast of the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards from the Metropolitan Opera House in New York. Lauryn Hill, nominated for five honors, is one of the scheduled performers along with Ricky Martin, TLC, Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys.

In the know
Ever wonder if the prices at your regular grocery store are cheaper or more expensive than those up the street? Each Wednesday, Price Check offers price comparisons on goods at area stores.

9/9/99
On Sept. 9, 1999, a day abbreviated with a attention-getting succession of nines, it seems appropriate to focus on the number nine and its importance in our lives

This heat is just in our heads
There I was Monday, spending the final day of the Augusta GreenJackets' regular season at Lake Olmstead Stadium. It was hot, but I didn't know that until hours later when a TV weatherman reported that the Labor Day had been a scorcher.

Body of soldier found
SAVANNAH -- Police divers Wednesday recovered the body of one of two soldiers who were reported missing after a Green Beret training exercise in the Savannah River.

Suit: Construction company negligent
AIKEN -- A construction supervisor is suing a construction foreman for assault and battery after an alleged attack in July at the Home Depot store being built on Whiskey Road.

Talkin' in the rain
With her child's books and backpack, Allyson Watson of Monetta takes a minute to chat with Gene Redd, an Aiken Public Safety crossing guard, during the brief rain shower Tuesday. Ms. Watson, who's daughter attends Millbrook Elementary, and Ms. Redd discussed the holiday weekend.

Discrimination suit is dismissed in court
MCCORMICK, S.C. -- A federal court has dismissed a former police chief's reverse discrimination lawsuit against the town of McCormick, saying there is no evidence of allegations he was fired in 1997 to make way for a black police chief.

Test to be replaced in 2003
Last year, 78.9 percent met or exceeded the 700 mark. This year, only 58.6 percent did. That's a decline of just over 20 points.

Lawsuit reaches settlement
AIKEN -- A $10 million defamation lawsuit related to a 6-year-old New Ellenton sewer scandal was settled out of court this week between a local businessman and the town's former mayor and wife.

Weight-loss drug offers hope, solution
After battling her body since she was a little girl, Debra Kirkland of Augusta seemed to have hit on the solution to her weight problems a few years ago. She began taking a pill that blocked her body from absorbing 30 percent of the fat she ate.

Bush Field board approves budget
The Augusta Regional Airport at Bush Field board approved the airport's $17.66 million year-2000 budget Tuesday with the $15,000 solution to the bird-strike problem intact.

SAT scores don't show full picture
ATLANTA -- Georgia may be struggling to make up ground nationally on the college-entrance Scholastic Assessment Test, but don't tell that to state university admissions directors.

Miranda law holds benefits
The afternoon that Rodney Richardson was arrested on murder charges, he made a terribly incriminating comment. ``I'll lead you to the body,'' he told an investigator. But the judge wouldn't let prosecutors use that statement against Mr. Richardson at his trial last week because Mr. Richardson wasn't first advised of his Miranda rights.

Barnes discusses economy
ATLANTA -- Less than a month after a fire destroyed Lincoln County's largest employer, local business and political leaders met with Gov. Roy Barnes Tuesday to pitch a project they say will replace at least some of those lost jobs.

Historians seek preservation of slave cemeteries
SAPELO ISLAND, Ga. -- Cornelia Bailey and her neighbors have buried their dead in Behavior Cemetery for almost 200 years, beginning with their ancestors -- West African slaves brought in chains to work Sapelo Island's cotton and sugar cane fields.

Admission standards debated
ATHENS, Ga. -- With four lawsuits and a rising legal tab, state leaders and the top brass at the University of Georgia are keeping quiet on their review of race preferences in the university's admissions.

Well suited for football
WATKINSVILLE, Ga. -- Sarah McClain's little sister, Hannah, was in the gym at Oconee County Middle School recently engaged in something typical of most girls her age: cheerleading practice.

Board closes part of road in Edgefield County
EDGEFIELD, S.C. -- Despite opposition from a few residents who own property near Citrus Road, county council members passed a resolution Monday to close a portion of the old farm road.

Residents seek funds for attorney
EDGEFIELD, S.C. -- It wasn't on the agenda and Edgefield County Chairman Monroe Kneece said Tuesday night's county council session ``is not a zoning meeting'' but the divisive issue made it to the floor anyway.

Search for missing flock is under way
The pink flamingos have flown the coop -- and they had help. The Augusta chapter of the Alzheimer's Association is searching for a flock of pink plastic flamingos and the person who made off with the 33 birds from the yard of a Columbia County home in August.

Schools hit by shortage of textbooks
Richmond County schools are experiencing a shortage of textbooks. Students at some schools only have enough books to use during class, others are using old books until newer editions arrive.

Clean-air debate centers on health
ATLANTA -- The illnesses bad air is bringing to large areas of Georgia should be a greater concern than the costs of cleaning up the pollution, health and environmental activists told a public hearing Wednesday.

Tour focuses on lighthouses
COLUMBIA -- If you really like lighthouses -- that is, like them enough to spend $200 and a week of your time -- then a tour of South Carolina's lighthouses may be just the thing.

Regents say MCG needs more money
ATLANTA -- The leaders of Georgia's university system are asking Gov. Roy Barnes and state lawmakers to come up with $5 million to help keep the Medical College of Georgia's hospital and clinics in the black during the first six months of 2000.

Molester sentenced to 10 years in prison
THOMSON -- A convicted child molester who had been living with a woman and her 8-month-old grandson was sent to prison for 10 years after a judge found he had violated his probation.

United Way kicks off campaign
Augusta-based United Way volunteers kicked off a $3.8 million money-raising campaign Tuesday with a goal of getting people to allow the organization to decide which charities receive the money.

Vivion Price
Services for VIVION CURTIS PRICE will be held Thursday, September 9, 1999 at 11 a.m. in First Baptist Church, Camden, with burial and graveside service at 4 p.m. in Riverview Memorial Gardens, Charleston, SC.

Punching back at Rick Dorse, Tom Moraetes
THIS IS A response to all of the negative publicity that I have been receiving in the media in Augusta. The so-called feud with Augusta Boxing Club director Tom Moraetes has been fueled by Chronicle reporter Rick Dorsey, who seems to have it in for successful local athletes. When I did the interview, Mr. Dorsey asked me general questions about me, my upcoming bout, and about Mr. Moraetes.

Raps Kansas for putting limits on God
The question of evolution vs. creationism has again come to the fore following the Kansas School Board's decision to remove questions about macroevolution and ``the big bang'' from the state competency exam.
Andy C. Reese, Augusta

Worries about military readiness
I want to let everyone know about our troops stationed in South Korea. The barracks are substandard, with holes in the walls and roach infestation. In Seoul the soldiers are being stacked up like cordwood. ...
Roger P. Nelms, Aiken

Rescind clemency!
It looks like the 16 Puerto Rican terrorists, jailed since the early 1980s on sedition and weapons convictions, are not going to let the president and first lady off the clemency hook. Already, most are accepting Bill Clinton's clemency offer.

Punching back at Rick Dorse, Tom Moraetes
THIS IS A response to all of the negative publicity that I have been receiving in the media in Augusta. The so-called feud with Augusta Boxing Club director Tom Moraetes has been fueled by Chronicle reporter Rick Dorsey, who seems to have it in for successful local athletes. When I did the interview, Mr. Dorsey asked me general questions about me, my upcoming bout, and about Mr. Moraetes.

Claims column mocks Catholicism
I have always enjoyed the column, ``Off the Wall,'' by P.S. Wall, which appears in the Tuesday edition of The Chronicle. I have found it to be a gentle comedy about relationships and welcomed it when it was first printed.
Charleen Luther, Augusta

Hits analysts' take on the economy
If economist Alan Greenspan and ``gas bags'' from radio and TV talk shows would leave their computers and polls ... go out into the real world of supermarkets, retail stores, banks, gas stations and check health insurance costs, they might change their opinions.
Carl W. Rafoth, Augusta

Slams board for re-hiring thief
Can you spell ``stench''? I think it is terrible that a self-confessed thief who has, in effect, stolen from the taxpayers has been given his job back.
Ginny Sherwood, Augusta

Leave fuel law alone
Environmentalists are pressing Congress for higher fuel economy standards for light trucks, including popular minivans and sports utility vehicles, arguing that since these vehicles are used like passenger cars, they ought to be regulated as such.

GOP boosts veterans
Last Sunday we editorially noted that the Clinton administration is falsely criticizing Republicans for ``cutting'' the Housing and Urban Development agency budget. The GOP actually proposes adding $2 billion over the current budget; the Democrats want to spend $4 billion.

Dress code whiners
The dress code controversy continues to rage in Columbia County. Whether she realizes it or not, Breonne DeDecker, the Greenbrier High student circulating a petition to strike down her school's dress code, epitomizes -- in her baggy pants, sloppy shirt and multi-colored hair -- why a dress code is needed.

Cooter's new job
Remember ex-U.S. Rep. Ben Jones, D-Ga.? Before he served a few terms in Congress, he was a good 'ol boy mechanic named ``Cooter'' on the old Dukes of Hazzard TV show.

Discounts criticism of evolution
In a recent letter, Michael Welsh takes issue with syndicated columnist Ellen Goodman's comments on the nature of scientific inquiry and its conclusion that evolution is a plausible mechanism to explain the development of life on Earth. I should like to take issue with some of Mr. Welsh's re-marks.
Richard Baxter, Aiken

No reason for anger
No Augusta commissioner has any business getting angry at being called before a local civil grand jury to answer questions. It may be inconvenient for some of them, but certainly there's no dishonor in being questioned. They should just consider it part of being a public servant.

Study links TV to sleep loss
CHICAGO -- Children who watch a lot of television -- especially at bedtime or on a TV set in their bedroom -- are more likely to resist going to bed, have trouble sleeping or wake up more, a study suggests.

Weight-loss drug offers hope, solution
After battling her body since she was a little girl, Debra Kirkland of Augusta seemed to have hit on the solution to her weight problems a few years ago. She began taking a pill that blocked her body from absorbing 30 percent of the fat she ate.

Movie-making becomes scientific research
WASHINGTON -- When the Smithsonian Institution and the IMAX Corp. decided to make a movie about the Galapagos Islands the result went beyond the giant screen -- scientists squeezed in enough research to discover more than a dozen marine species.

Findings could have impact
There is an intricate dance of chemical reactions that maintain a healthy balance of pressure within the eye and tracing the steps of that dance has occupied Ata A. Abdel-Latif nearly four decades.